USA Water Polo Men’s Squad Lives to Fight Another Day

By M. Duncan Scott

ATHENS, Greece, August 27. AMERICA won its first classification round game earlier today over Australia 6-5. They will face off with the winner of tonight’s Italy-Croatia clash to decide seventh place in the Olympic tournament.

Interestingly, the game was a repeat of yesterday’s bronze medal match-up on the ladies side: same countries, same outcome, same score. USA 6, Australia 5. The team’s overall record for the tourney is now 3-3, and they have a chance to post a winning record if they win their final match.

US Coach Ratko Rudic spoke with optimism over his team’s progress. "The team showed great potential, it is our team of the future. I am satisfied with their overall performance, they showed potential, and I was also able to see the weaknesses that need to be corrected."

Probably as important for the squad’s future is the observation by player Jeff Powers recognizing that, though not for a medal, this was a game with importance to the USA Water Polo program. "To make the first eight places was very important, so we can have the financial support of the US Olympic Committee. Pride was also a big factor. This is the Olympic Games and every match is important. I think that we can be satisfied. We have a very young team. For ten members of our team, this is their first Olympic Games. We are gaining useful experience for the future from this major competition."

US star scorer Tony Azevedo expressed confidence about their prospects for the remaining game and about the quality of competition they had to face to this point. "We will definitely win the seventh place. Our group was the most difficult; all the medals will come out of it."